On a bitterly cold morning with the sun having barely peered over the horizon, legions of campaign volunteers were yesterday already standing on Concord's Main Street. They had been there for hours.

They held up a forest of signs on a busy intersection of this New Hampshire town, confirming to passing commuters what they already knew: their state has now taken centre stage in the most exciting American election for a generation.

Barack Obama signs jostled with Hillary Clinton placards. Volunteers whooped and shouted at passing cars, urging the drivers to honk to express their support. When they did, both sides had a tendency to cheer and think the blast was for them.

A sprinkling of John McCain volunteers were there too, hoping to build post-Iowa buzz in a state which McCain could easily win now that his main rival, Mitt Romney, has limped defeated out of the midwest. Somewhere too, at the back of the crowd, a lone Ron Paul supporter held aloft a sign for the maverick Republican candidate.

But, for now, Main Street belonged to the Democratic contest and the mood amid the ice and snow seemed a reflection of the political race. After his stunning win, Obama's supporters were ecstatic.

"Seeing him in Iowa was the best night of my life," said a breathless Chris McCreight, 34, a record store owner who had come to Concord from Obama's home state of Illinois. "It was beyond what I hoped for."

On the road opposite, the Hillary camp was professionally upbeat. Just like their candidate. "I believe that we will win. A lot of people here support Hillary. She is still the best candidate," said Matthew Kennis, 25, from neighbouring Massachusetts.

Certainly there is still much to play for and the remaining candidates still have to deal with one thing: New Hampshire voters, who, just like Iowans, are notoriously fickle and make their minds up late.

They are people like Terry Heinzmann, a retired businesswoman. She is torn between Clinton and Obama and John Edwards. "I'm having the toughest time," she said. "They are all good." Before decision day she intends to see all of them.

Jenny Xia, who manages a local tech firm, is also torn: between Clinton or the Republican Rudy Giuliani. It seems a bizarre conflict but Xia is a registered independent voter and can ballot in either the Democratic or Republican contest. "Hillary is very experienced, but Rudy is better in terms of tax policy," she explained.

She too is going to leave it late before making a decision. In New Hampshire everything is still up for grabs.